All Hands On Deck To End ASUU Strike, Says Minister

Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah Opiah, has reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government was committed to ending the strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The minister stated that given the charge by President Muhammadu Buhari concerning ending the industrial dispute, all relevant stakeholders involved in the negotiation have moved into action and were working towards achieving a positive result.

Opiah made the disclosure during a meeting with Women in Politics (WIP) who visited his office to discuss the challenges in tertiary institutions in the country and other matters connected to national politics.

The minister told the WIP led by its Matron, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo (Iyaloja General of Nigeria) in company with the Director General, Hajia Mariah Danjuma, that the directive of the President on ending the strike was being carried out, adding that the dispute would be resolved in no distant time.

Lending support to the activities of the WIP, the Minister said the ministry was collaborating with genuine efforts of groups and non-governmental organisations on the development of the education sector, adding that the visit would spur his ministry to do more for the system.

He, however, used the opportunity to inform the group that the APC administration means well to the people hence his desire to support the WIP.

He called on other well-meaning groups to join forces at ensuring that the party’s Tinubu/ Shettima presidential ticket becomes the best option for the country in the 2023 general election.

The WIP had earlier told the minister that they came to commend him on his efforts towards ensuring that students return to their various campuses within the shortest possible time, noting that, “it’s imperative as mothers, aunties and sisters to also request that effort is redoubled in making the academic related strike a past in Nigeria as education remains the bedrock for development in any economy.”

Explaining the mission of the group, the Matron, who appreciated the minister for granting them an audience within short notice, said the WIP is a women-based support organisation involved in advocacy for women’s participation in politics with a view to bringing to the fore ideas that would propel the Tinubu/Shettima presidential project to success.

The WIP Secretary, Fatima Abubakar, was also part of the delegation as well as the PRO and state coordinators in Akwa Ibom and Benue.